Program helps Kane County juvenile inmates earn college credits

A painted sign outside a classroom inside Kane County’s Juvenile Justice Center School in St. Charles reads: “some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the bug.”

A painted sign outside a classroom inside Kane County’s Juvenile Justice Center School in St. Charles reads: “some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the bug.” (Rafael Guerrero/The Courier-News)

The six students in Darlene Harris' Exploring Careers and College Majors class Thursday revealed a multitude of potential post-secondary career interests.

There was talk of becoming firefighters, computer analysts, attorneys, mechanics and farmers among the six teens. Harris said the group was in the process of culminating with a final paper where they would document a career choice.

Officials from Elgin Community College, the Kane County judicial system, state and national legislators were on hand Thursday as Kane County Juvenile Justice Center School leaders presented the site's dual credit program.

"Where are you guys from?" one of the students asked.

Harris pointed out that some of the adult guests were responsible for allowing them the opportunity to advance their studies, higher education and career interests while they were incarcerated.

Since the first dual credit sessions held last summer at the St. Charles juvenile facility, the program has provided more than two dozen juvenile inmates the option to take three courses that count in both earning a high school or GED diploma and earn college credit.

"The students that we see are often told that they can't do it, over and over again," said Ivars Spalis, the school's principal. "Or they tell themselves they can't do it. We're telling them yes we can."

The dual credit program is funded through both the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center and the Kane County Regional Office of Education. Spalis said the grant was worth between $65,000 and $75,000 this year.

Unlike the school's regular course offerings, which ensure an incarcerated minor is caught up with their K-12 education, the dual credit program takes their education a bit further, he said.

Rafael Guerrero/The Courier-News

Kane County Juvenile Court Judge Clint Hull, left, and Elgin Community College instructor Darlene Harris talk to juvenile inmates at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center School in St. Charles on Thursday.

Kane County Juvenile Court Judge Clint Hull, left, and Elgin Community College instructor Darlene Harris talk to juvenile inmates at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center School in St. Charles on Thursday. (Rafael Guerrero/The Courier-News)

The three courses — career and college exploration, student success, and job search strategies — are more along the line of soft skills rather than academic. However, soft skills such as resume building, talking with employers and planning are necessary in the post-high school life, whether it be college or the workforce, school officials said.

"A good handshake, good eye contact (with others) will do you well," ECC Trustee Jennifer Rakow, a human resources director, told the students.

The dual credit program is a collaboration between the county and Elgin Community College. Libby Roeger, the college's dean of college transitions and developmental education, said she wants the collaboration to expand beyond the two entities, bringing other community colleges into the fray.

"We chose courses for the dual credit courses that actually help build self esteem, self confidence, think about careers and next steps," she said.

One of the challenges Elgin Community College officials are experiencing is the student transition into college. Given the year-old age of the program and the ages of the students, only three students have so far completed the two-week dual credit classes, graduated with a high school or GED diploma and gone on to apply to ECC, Roeger said. Of the three, only one has been confirmed to enroll at ECC.

Elgin Community College serves many Kane County communities, but not all of them. Its enrollment boundaries only stretch as far south as St. Charles. Roeger said she wants to expand talks with other community colleges in order for them to be aware of Juvenile Justice Center School graduates, that they may have college credit already, and that they deserve a seamless transition into post-secondary education.

"We have a wonderful bridge program for high school students called the Transition Academy that have some components that we think could be very helpful for students," she said. "It includes mentoring, community support and parent support."